Bottle-capping mechanism



Oct; 28, 1930. c. w. eoonwm 1,779,593

v BOTTLE CAPPING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 1926 3 SheetsSheet 1 Get. 28, 1930.

c. w. GOODWIN BOTTLE CAPPING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov, 20, 1926 Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL W. GOODWIN, OF NATIGK,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO AMERICAN SEAL-KAI CORPORATION, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE BOTTLE-CAPPINO MECHANISM Application filed November 20, 1926. Serial No. 149,630.

Thisinvention relates to mechanism for applying caps to bottles having been more especially intended for applying caps to milk bottles and to be used as part of a filling and capping machine. In such machines the bottles are commonly filled while at one station and are then moved to another station where the caps are applied. These caps are commonly applied by a suitable plunger mechanism which descends to the bottle mouths.

Occasionally a bottle is not properly positioned for the capping so that the cap applying plunger strikes the edge and this usually results in breaking the bottle. l

A capping mechanism of this general type is illustrated in the application for patent of Ewald G. Baum, Serial Number 40,807, filed July 1, 1925, for bottle capping machines. In the construction therein illustrated the plunger actuates a cap applying member which extends below the top of the bottle when in cap applying position and a member which engages with the outside of the mouth to hold the bottle centered for the capping operation. Thus the centering member descends withthe plunger to its seating position on the bottle as the cap applying member presses the cap home within the bottle and both remain stationary during the further motion of the plunger.

The relative movement of these two members and the plunger after such seating is utilized to efiect movement of a cap feeding device which presents the caps one at a time beneath the cap applying member. Should the centering member strike on the edge of a bottle top on an improperly positioned bottle thus being held up above its intended bottle-engaging position, the proper extent of relative movement between the plunger and members to eflect actuation of the feeding device would be completed before the end of the plunger stroke and when so completed these members will be carried down together for the remaining distance of the plunger stroke. Under such conditions something must break and it is usually the bottle.

According to the present invention the bottle centering member and ca applying element remain unaifected by urther descent destructive pressure to be exerted on the bottle.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Flgure 1 is a detail section through a port1on of the machine showing the capping mechamsm partly in elevation and partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the cap applying plunger drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a section on a smaller scale taken at right angles to Figure 1 and showlng the capping mechanism in elevation.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sections on lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 6 1s a view similar to a portion of F igure 1, but to a larger scale.

Flgure 7 is a view similar to a portion of .Figure 6, but illustrating the positions of certain parts on the descent of the plunger when the bottle is improperly positioned.

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective.

F1gures,l0, 11 and 13 are views similar to Figures 6, 7 and 9, respectively, but showing a modified construction.

Figure 12 is a detail on line 12-12 of F igure 10. v Referring first to the construction shown 1n Figures 1 to 9, in Figures 1 and 2 is shown at 1 a machine table on which the bottles to be capped are supported, it being understood that where this mechanism is a portion of a filling and capping machine that the bottles are moved along this table from'the filling station to the capping station. Extending upwardly through this table 1 is a vertically movable plunger 2, this plunger as shown in Figure 1 being moved up and down in a 7 at one end, and connected at its opposite end by means of a link 8 pivoted thereto to the lower end of the plunger 2. The upper end of the plunger has fixed thereto a head 10 which is extended laterally and carries depending therefrom a pair of rods shown at 12, the mechanism as shown being arranged to cap two bottles simultaneously and being actuated by the movement of a single plunger 2. On either side of the plunger 2 are supports on each of which is mounted a sleeve 16, these sleeves being adjustable vertically to conform to the height of the bottles to be capped, the machine being adjustable for the different bottle capacities such as pints, quarts, etc. Extending from each of these sieves 16 is a bearing 17 through which slides a hollow shaft or-sleeve 18 within which extends one of the rods 12.

As shown in Figure 2 the rod 12 has a guide bushing 20 screwed to its lower end and reacting between this bushing and the lower end of a block 21 screwed into the upper end of the hollow shaft or sleeve 18 is a relatively light coil spring 22. Beneath the guide bushing 20 is positioned a relatively heavy spring 23, the lower end of which engages on the upper end of a socket block 24 having a spherical socket in which bears a spherical head 25 of a cap applying element 26. This cap applying element is held in position in the socket block by any suitable means such as screws 27 threaded through the member 18 and the socket block and engaging the cap applying element below the horizontal axis of the spherical head. Fixed to the lower end of the member 18 is a hollow member 30 through which the cap applying plunger extends, this member 30 having its lower end formed to present an enlarged chamber as at 31 terminating in a mouthpiece 32 presenting a conical opening as at 33 which may pass over the top of a milk bottle and engage it on the enlarged portion below its neck. The mouthpiece 32 is formed integral with the plate 34, as shown best in Figures 6 and 7 which furnishes a slidable support for a cap feeding element 36. It will be noted that there are two of these members 3 1, one for each of the cap applying mechanisms.

As shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 the lower end of each bearing 17 is provided with a slot as at 40 within which the heads of the screws 27 may ride when the plunger is in its raised position. The mouthpiece 32 partially closes off the chamber 31 and forms a support for a pair'of jaws 45 hinged together by the pintle 146 between which jaws the caps are fed one at a time to be held in position beneath the cap applying element26.

, As shown the cap applying element comprises a hollow sleeve slit upwardly as by the kerfs 46 to form a series of spring fingers 47 which engage the cap, the lower ends of these fingers being formed with outwardly directed edge portions 48 which when pres-sure is applied to wardly and force the inner walls of the cap into close engagement with the inner edge of the bottle above the usual disk receiving ledge, this mechanism being particularly designed to seat caps each having a marginal or pouring lip housing which is seated over the upper edge of the bottle mouth when the cap is forced home on the bottle.

At each reciprocation of the plunger, it is evident that the member 30 and the cap applying element contained therein are moved vertically and when a bottle is in proper position to receive a cap the member 30 descends thereon, the inclined surface 33 engaging and centering the bottle top about which pass the clamping jaws 45 to such an extent that the cap applying element 47 descends within the mouth of the bottle and applies the cap thereto.

As shown in Figure 2 the upper wall of the chamber 31 has an annular groove or recess 50 therein within which the pouring lip hous ing portion of the cap extends when the member 30 is at its downward limit of motion. In normal operation the member 30 is at its extreme downward position engaging over the bottle top before the plunger 12 has completed its downward stroke and the continued motion of the plunger after the member 30 is brought down against the bottle is made use of to operate the cap feeding slides 36. This continued movement of the plunger is permitted by reason of the spring 23 within the member 18, the member 30 being arrested by its contact with the bottle and pressure being applied thereto and to the cap applying element 26 to properly seat the cap on the bottle by the reaction of the spring 23. Should a bottle not be positioned correctly to permit the member 32 to pass thereover, the member 32 striking on the upper edge of the bottle, as when in the dotted line position in Figure 5, it is evident that the member 30 will be arrested prematurely and consequently a greater extent of motion of the plunger after such arresting will take place than if the member 30 is carried down to its normal cap applying position. It is thus clear that the extent of relative motion between the plunger and member 30 will then be greater than normal. This invention provides such a connection to the cap feeding slides 36 that whenever this relative motion greater than normal is produced, the cap feeding device will be actuated in its normal manner and any further motion of the plunger after the extent necessary to effect the action of such feeding device will be an idle motion. Various mechanisms for accomthe cap by the plunger spring outings, one form being illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and the other form illustrated in Figures9 to 12.

In the form illustrated in Figures '1 to 5 the crosshead 10 is provided with a forwardly and downwardly extending bracket 60 formed as a slideway to receive a pair of blocks 61 and 62. Each of these blocks is provided with a cam plate 63, 64, each of which is formed with a slot 65 therein. This shit has an upper substantially vertical portion 66," a lower substantially vertical portion 67 outwardly ofi'set therefrom, and an in-. clined portion 68 joining the portions 66 and 67. Each of these cam plates is fixed to one side of its block 61 or 62, as shown this being accomplished by means of screws as 69 ex tending through the blocks and threaded into the cam plates. Each of these blocks also has a guide rod 70 fixed at its lower end therein, this guide rod extending through a guide sleeve 71 formed as a part of the bracket 60, a spring 72 being interposed between the upper face of the guide sleeve 71 and a head 73 pinned to the upper endof the guide rod.

As a part of each of the members 30 is an extension 75 formed as a tubular reservoir 76 toreceive a supply of caps, this reservoir having an opening 77 at its lower end through which the feed block 36 carried on the member 34 slides and from which by the sliding of this feed block caps may be removed in succession from the bottom of a stack supported in the member 75 and bemoved into the chamber 31 between the clamping jaws 45.

, To each of these extensions 76 of the adjacent pair of members 30 is pivoted, as'at 78, a lever 79. Each of these levers is provided .at its upper end above the pivots 78 with a cam roll 80 journaled on a stud 81, this cam roll riding in one of the slots 65. The lower end of each of the levers 79 is provided with an angularly arranged slot 83 which engages over a pin 84 projecting from the feed block 36. During the normal downward movement of the plunger and member. 30 together the rolls 80 are positioned toward the lower end of the inclined slot portion 68. As soon as the member 30 is arrested by contact with the bottle, further downward movement of the plunger produces a downward movement of the cam plates so that the cam rolls are moved toward the vertical slot portion 66. This causes the lower end of each of the corresponding levers 79 to be swung outwardly so that the pin 84 engages in the inner forward end of the cam slot 83, as shown in Figure 7, and without moving the block 36, and any further relative downward motion of the plunger is without effect to cause any further movement of the lever, the cam roll riding up in the vertical portion of the slot 65. Thls cam slot portion is of suflicient length so that if the member 30 is arrested prematurely by an improperly positioned bottle as shown in Figure 7, the plunger may continue to descend throughout its full amplitude without causing the cam follower to reach the upper end of the vertical slot 66 so that no positive downward movement of the member 30 such as would break the bottle is produced.

' On withdrawal of the member 30 by a rising movement of the plunger the light spring 22 causes the member 30 to be held down in contact with the bottle until a balance bet-ween the springs 22 and 23 is produced, whereupon further upward motion of the plunger carries the member 30 therewith. The upward motion of the member 30 with the plunger then continues until this motion is arrested by contact of the member 30 against the stationary guide sleeve 17 in the position shown in Figure 1 and in full lines in Figure 6. The

initial relative motion between the plunger and the member 30 causes the cam roll 80 to be brought down within the vertical portion 66 of the slot adjacent to the upper end of the inclined portion 68 and further causes a rocking of the lever 7 9 to bring the pin 84 at the angle of the slot 83 but as yet there is no motion of the slide 36. After the upward motion of the member 30 is positively stopped by its engagement with the sleeve bearing 17, further upward motion of the plunger acts resiliently through the yieldable transmission element consisting of the spring 70 to raise the cam plate 63 or 64 so as to cause the cam follower 80 to pass down within the inclined portion 68 of the slot and into the vertical portion 67 thereof, thus swinging the lever 79 and producing a sliding motion of the block 36 sufficient to eject a cap from the lower end of the stack in the receptacle 76 into position Within the chamber 31 between the jaws 45 as shown by dotted lines in Figure 6. It will be noted that the members 30 are arranged in pairs, each moved from a single plunger so that two bottles may be capped simultaneously but each one of these is independently supported so that in case either is stopped by an improperly positioned bottle no effect is produced on the other which if the bottle is correctly positioned for it completes its normal motion whereupon the cap is applied.

In Figures 10 to 13 a modified construction is shown in which the feed slide actuating levers 85 are fulcrumed at 184 to the corresponding cap receptacles 75 and have at their upper end mutilated gear segment portions 86. each having teeth at its lower portion and a flat face 87 at its upper portion. In place of the blocks 61 shown in the form first described, blocks 89 are provided, each sliding in a suitable guideway 90 in the crosshead 91. Each of these blocks 89 is provided with an upstanding stem or pin portion 92 extending through the guide sleeve 71 and surrounded by a cushion spring 72 as in the form previously described. The lower end of the slide blocks 89, however, is provided with a series of teeth 95 which are adapted to mesh with teeth 86 of the corresponding lever 85. When the teeth on the levers and blocks are in mesh, as shown in Figure 10, an initial movement of the slide blocks 89 downwardly relative to the member 30 causes a rocking of the lever 85. But if this motion be continued until the teeth 95 pass below the teeth 86, the flat portion 87 of the lever comes into initial contact with the forward face of its block 89, whereupon further motion of the block 89 downwardly is without efiect to swing the lever but causes this lever to be held in a fixed position. Thus, after the arresting of the member 30 by contact with the bottle anda further downward motion of the plunger sufficient to give the desired swing to the lever 85 any further relative motion between the member 30 and the plunger is without effect to swing this level so that whether or not the member 30 is prematurely stopped, as by contact with an improperly positioned bottle, is of no consequence. On the reverse movement between the member 30 and the plunger after the member 30 has engaged and been stopped by stationary guide sleeve 17 the block 89 is moved upwardly without affecting the lever 85 until the teeth thereon come into engagement with the teeth 86 of the lever, whereupon further relative motion causes the lever 85 to be swung to effect a feed of a cap in a manner similar to that by which the lever 79 is swung in the form shown in Figures 1 to 8.

In both the constructions illustrated there is thus seen to be a releasable operative engagement between certain parts in the operative connections to the cap feeding device, the release occurring automatically after a period of operative engagement of these parts during which the cap applying device rece ves its normal actuation. Thus the cap feeding device is given its normal motion only, even though the relative movement between the plunger and the bottle engaging member is longer than normal as when th s member engages a bottle improperly positioned for capping.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bottle capping mechanism, a cap applying element, a plunger movable in a path of fixed amplitude, connections between said plunger and applying element for causing r eciproc'ation of said plunger to reciprocate said applying element, a stop for l1m1t1ng the retracting motion of said applying element, said applying element being stopped in 1ts applying movement by a bottle to be capped while the motion of said plunger continues, a cap feeding device including a cap engaging element movable to and from a position to present a cap in operative relation to said applying element, and connections to said engaging element operatively related to said plunger and applying element for imparting feeding motion thereto by continued motion of said plunger in one direction after said applying element is stopped by said stop and for imparting retracting motion to said cap engaging element on relative motion in the opposite direction between said plunger and applying element, said connections including means causing said connections to be inoperative to cause movement of said device during an abnormal extent of relative motion between said plunger and element in said opposite direction as when said applying element is prematurely stopped by an improperly positioned bottle.

2. In a bottle capping mechanism, a cap applying element, a plunger movable in a path of fixed amplitude, connections between said plunger and applying element for causing reciprocation of said plunger to reciprocate said applying element, a stop for limiting the retracting motion of said applying element, said applying element being stopped in its applying movement by a bottle to be capped while the motion of said plunger continues, a cap feeding device including a cap engaging element movable to and from a position to present a cap in operative relation to said applying element, and connections to said engaging element operatively related to said plunger and applying element for imparting feeding motion thereto by continued motion of said plunger in one direction after said applying element is stopped by said stop and for imparting retracting motion to said cap engaging element on relative motion in the opposite direction between said plunger and applying element, said connections including means causing an abnormal extent of relative motion in said opposite direction as when said applying element is prematurely stopped by an improperly positioned bottle to be ineffective to move said cap engaging element, said connections also including a yieldable transmission element.

3. In a bottle capping mechanism, a hollow member engageable over the top of a bottle correctly positioned to receive a cap, a plunger movable in a path of fixed amplitude, a cap applying element movable with said plunger, operative connections between said plunger and member for simultaneous motion therewith when said member is free to move, a stop for limiting the retracting movement of said member from a bottle while the mo tion of said plunger continues, means for feeding a cap to said element, said feeding means having operative connections to said plunger and member acting to cause said feeding means to feed a cap by continued motion of said plunger in the same direction after said member is stopped by said stop and to be retracted by relative motion between said plunger and member in the opposite direction, said feeding means including mechanism causing an abnormal extent of such relative motion to be ineflective to actuate said feeding means, as when said member is prematurely stopped as by contact with the top of an improperly positioned bottle.

4. In a bottle capping mechanism, a member engageable over a top of a bottle correctly positioned for capping, a plunger reciprocable in a path of fixed amplitude relative to the bottle to be'capped, connections between said member and plunger causing one movement of said plunger to cause said member to impinge on a bottle to be capped and then be held while said plunger completes its stroke relative to said bottle, a cap feeding device comprising a cap reservoir and slideway both carried by said member, a slide movable on said slideway to engage and move caps successively from said reservoir into capping position relative to said member, a lever having one arm connected to said slide, a plate carried by said plunger and having a slot therein, and a pin on said lever riding in said slot, said slot having an inclined portion for causing swinging of said lever when said pin is engaged therein by relative movement between said member and plunger and a vertical portion above said inclined portion to permit further relative motion between said member and plunger beyond a predetermined amount to be ineffective to swing said lever.

5. In a bottle capping mechanism, a member engageable over a top of a bottle correctly positioned for capping, a plunger re-- ciprocable ina path of fixed amplitude rela-' tive to the bottle to be capped, resilient connections between said member and plunger causing one movement of said plunger to cause said member to impinge on a bottle to be capped and then be held while said plunger completes its stroke relative to said bottle, a cap feeding device comprising a cap reservoir and slideway both carried by said member, a slide movable on said slideway to engage and move caps successively from said reservoir into capping position relative to said member, a lever having one arm connected to said slide, a plate, and yielding connections between said plate and plunger, said plate having a slot therein, and "a pin on said lever riding in said slot, said slot having an inclined portion for causing swinging of said lever when said pin is engaged therein by relative movement between said member and plunger and a vertical portion above said inclined portion to permit further relative motion between said mem ber and plunger beyond a predetermined amount to be ineffective to swing said lever.

6. In a bottle capping mechanism, a member engageable over the top of a bottle correctly positioned to receive a cap, a plunger reciprocable relative to the bottle in a path of fixed amplitude, operative connections between said plunger and member causing simultaneous motion of said plunger and,

member until said member contacts with a bottle, and a cap feeding device, said mechanism including connections between said cause further relative movement between said plunger and member to be ineffective to further actuate said device.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

CARL W. GOODWIN. 

